Cyberpunk: 2075.

Chapter 844, Section 54: Inheritance and Marriage Contracts – There Can Be No Mistakes
In the conference room on the top floor of the Arasaka Tower, Arasaka Michiko sat opposite Sei-nobu, her demeanor as composed as ever. She listened to the topic Sei-nobu raised—the issue of the Arasaka successor—and subconsciously repeated it.

"Heir?" Michiko asked calmly, with just the right amount of respect. "Uncle, you must already have someone in mind when you bring this up."

Arasaka Yorinobu nodded.

“Father’s era is over.” His voice was calm but carried an undeniable power. “Arasaka needs new blood—not just in the leadership, but also a complete overhaul at the soul level, a new Arasaka who truly belongs to the new era, who can coexist with the new order of this city and even the world, and who can actively shape this world.”

Lai Hsuan has tried many ways to change the world.

In his youth, he broke with his family after witnessing the company's darkness, and even formed a gang to try to destroy the Arasaka Empire from the outside. Now, standing at the height of his life, he has realized that true change requires not only the surge of the bottom, but also the reshaping from the top. And he has long been determined to dismantle and rebuild everything from the inside.

Sei-nobu turned around and looked sharply at Michiko: "Michiko, your daughter, Haruko, has the blood of Arasaka flowing in her veins, but she has not been completely corrupted by the shadow of the old era. She is young, highly malleable, and more importantly, she has enough ambition, enough ambition to make her want to obtain things."

Michiko's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly for a moment, but she did not refute.

Although Haruko grew up under strict discipline in the Arasaka mansion, as a mother, she saw through the undercurrents beneath her daughter's calm surface earlier than anyone else.

That girl did indeed inherit the family's genes, but she also harbored an almost arrogant desire—a desire that was ambition, a yearning ambition.

Although both Haruko and Hanako grew up in the Arasaka mansion, they were completely different people.

Hanako succumbed to imprisonment, obediently following her father's will in her past life. Haruko, on the other hand, not only felt no sense of constraint, but even her imprisonment ignited a fire of ambition that was so intense that the slightest spark could ignite a raging inferno.

Haruko is ambitious; she has the ambition to stand at the top and change the world. And what Nobuyuki and Michiko are talking about now is Haruko's ambition.

Sei-nobu said, "I don't care about Haruko's thoughts, because I don't plan to have a child or adopt a child, so this position will be hers sooner or later. But she needs an anchor, someone who can help her stand firm and make up for the qualities she lacks."

She needed to understand the world outside the company, to possess the power and prestige to deter all the wolves, and she also needed an 'external force'—a true link that was reshaping the rules of this city, and even the entire world.

He paused for a moment, then uttered the crucial name: "Karl."

Despite having somewhat anticipated it, Michiko still couldn't maintain complete composure upon hearing the name; her pupils contracted slightly: "Karl? Uncle, you want him to... assist Haruko?"

“It’s not just about being an assistant.” Sei-nobu’s tone was calm, yet subtly suggestive. “I want him to become Haruko’s husband and inherit Arasaka together with her.”
Their union will be the most powerful symbol of the fusion of old and new. Haruko brings the legitimacy of the bloodline and internal stability, while Karl brings external recognition, unparalleled strength, and the credibility to completely bid farewell to the Saburo era, announcing to the world that Arasaka is no longer the Arasaka of the past.

Silence fell over the CEO's office as Arasaka Seigen spoke.

Michiko quickly weighed her options. Letting Haruko inherit the company aligned with her expectations, but making Karl, an "outsider" who was completely out of step with the company's traditions, Haruko's husband and co-heir? Even with her forward-thinking perspective, that was a bit too bold.

This is not to say that as a mother, Michiko Arasaka opposes this; rather, she agrees with it. However, as a senior executive at Arasaka, she has to remind the CEO at this moment.

“Uncle, this idea is too audacious,” Michiko said cautiously. “Would Karl agree? Given your relationship with him, you should be aware of his attitude towards the company, and what about the elders and the board of directors?”

“The board of directors?” Sei-nobu chuckled lightly, with a hint of sarcasm. “After tonight, who will dare to question my decision? As for the clan elders, the remnants of the old era, while Saburo was alive, they merely relied on their bloodline to grab a share of power on the fringes. Their opinions can be listened to, but they have never been decisive. The new Arasaka will be written by new rules.”

Aside from the main members, the Arasaka family has some members who are distantly related by blood but can still be considered relatives. Their relationship with the Arasaka family dates back to the time of Saburo Arasaka's father. They helped the Arasaka family in the early stages of its expansion, but now they are just a group of people who live off their blood ties and enjoy the benefits. Their existence is completely insignificant.

more importantly.
“Karl’s opinion is indeed an important matter.” Sei-nobu’s gaze turned to the window again, where the figure had disappeared into the crowd below. “He may not like the company, but he cares about this city and the people. He will see this as an opportunity to fundamentally change Arasaka and thus influence the entire Night City and even the world.”
This isn't about turning him into a corporate slave, but about making him someone who can redefine the company's meaning. For a greater goal, he might accept this 'shackle'.

“Is this a kind of shackle, Uncle?” Michiko asked softly. “From what you’re saying, it seems you’re scheming against your friend, making him shoulder burdens that don’t belong to him.”

Upon hearing Michiko's words—perhaps out of concern for Karl, her "future son-in-law"—Sei was slightly taken aback at first, but then smiled.

"This is not a scheme, nor is it a shackle."

He took a sip of the water in his glass, recalling his conversation with Karl not long ago. "That lazy fellow only slacks off occasionally because I'm around;"

But he cared about all of this more than anyone else. "When no one is willing to take responsibility—there's no need for anyone to persuade him, or even for anyone to scheme against him—he will take up that 'shackle' on his own."

He paused for a moment, as if gazing at a distant scene.

"Because he can't let go of things deep down. He's out of step with this era, and even—can't stand the world being like this."

Michiko gazed at Lai Xuan and noticed a peculiar light in the CEO's eyes—a light she had never seen in Saburo's eyes before, a light that had been hidden or disappeared in her uncle's eyes over the past fifty years.

That light belonged to Sei Nobu, who was running around the streets more than fifty years ago; it was an almost idealistic persistence, intense and clear.

“Uncle,” she said softly, her voice carrying an almost respectful tone, “I suddenly recall the image of you that circulated fifty years ago: the rebel and the rebellious son of Arakawa—an idealist.”

Lai Xuan smiled slightly: "I've just returned to my old self, Michiko. This city is changing, the world is changing, and it's possible that I could become the old Arasaka Sei-nobu again."

He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the dazzling night city below. In the distance, the neon lights of advertisements pulsed like veins, and the NCPD's hovercars drew interwoven light trails in the air.

“You know what? When I stood on the street, standing shoulder to shoulder with those people, watching them gradually get better with Karl’s help, I felt that feeling from the past. It was a power, a power that didn’t come from money or weapons, but from a shared belief.” Lai Xuan’s voice deepened. “Karl reminded me of that again.”

Michiko sat quietly, understanding her uncle's trust and affection for Karl. That trust, that affection, had a name.

In Michiko's memory, it was a very fitting name; having such a person in one's life was perhaps enough to bring joy.

Comrade.

Those who share the same ideals will share the same heart; those who share the same heart will share the same ideals.

For Nobuaki Arasaka, Karl was a like-minded comrade.

“So this is trust,” Michiko Arakawa said softly. “Uncle, you are indeed different from Saburo; you can trust people.”

Lai Xuan nodded: "I believed Karl would understand, so I knew he would accept it. He's not after power or wealth, but for a better world, however..."

He paused slightly, a strange smile playing on his lips: "But this method does have a bit of the flavor of Sanlang's era, where elders decide on marriages and such."

“I’m not sure what Karl will think,” Michiko Arakasa said softly, “but I’m sure my daughter won’t object.”

No one knows a daughter better than her mother. As a mother, she understood Haruko's thoughts all too well.

That little girl still has a lot to learn when it comes to relationships.

Michiko recalled that when she was younger than her daughter, she was already in a relationship, making Haruko seem rather naive in this regard.

"I can finally feel a little relieved to have your approval, my mother."

Lai Xuan was not unaware of Qingzi's feelings for Karl.

Rather, he had mentioned this to Karl before. He knew long ago that Haruko was paying attention to a young man named Karl, and before they even met, Sei-nobu already knew Karl's name and appearance.

At that time, in his mind, Karl was merely someone Haruko might fall for, a young man who might enter her life. He never expected that this young man, whom he once defined as "Haruko's love interest," would one day become a comrade and close friend who awakened his will and reshaped his ideals.

“I will try to persuade Karl, but this will probably require more skill than dealing with Saburo Arasaka.”

Sei Xuan continued in a calm tone, "Haruko needs Karl to balance her ambitions and prevent her from repeating the mistakes of my father."

"So, if Karl agrees, you still intend to separate power—judging from your tone, you seem to favor Karl? You're planning to hand over your faction to him as his successor?"

Michiko raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised. "I thought you would take this opportunity to completely consolidate the internal factions. I was prepared to hand over everything."

Sei-nobu shook his head: "A company or an organization that only has voices of approval and loses the power of opposition will eventually stagnate and decay—just like Arasaka under Saburo's control."

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight: "A person's decisions are not always correct. At such times, it is necessary for dissenting voices to stand up, point out errors, and raise questions."
However, this opposition should not degenerate into pure confrontation. Both sides should ultimately strive towards a better direction—the only difference lies in their methods and perspectives, a point that must never be forgotten.

With a deep gaze, he continued, “I am not against factions themselves. In fact, sometimes your dovish, moderate negotiations can achieve more pragmatic results, which I agree with. What I want to eliminate is Saburo’s remaining will, especially the part that permeates the Pheasant faction. But I do not intend to keep the factional divisions forever—I intend to let them make their own choices.”

"Your own choice?" Michiko repeated softly. "So, you intend to leave the future to Karl and Haruko, and let them decide?"

"The new era will not be created by the elderly."

Sei Xuan suddenly smiled and said, "That will be the time when Karl and Haruko will have a headache. It has nothing to do with me, a dead person. Anyway, I am already satisfied enough to know that there is still hope before I die."

"That's such an irresponsible thing to do. You're going to have a hard time after this, Haruko."

As Michiko Arasaka spoke, she turned her head and, in the course of her words, addressed Haruko.

In the line of sight of Nobuyuki Sei and Michiko, the office door of CEO Arasaka slid open silently, and a figure stood in the doorway, backlit, with a blurred outline.

"An interesting conversation," a young woman's voice rang out, her tone calm. "But didn't you forget to ask the parties involved?"

Haruko, with her hair neatly styled in a single ponytail, walked into the room carrying a stack of confidential documents, her gaze sweeping indifferently over the two elders.

"Knowing I was at the door, they still brazenly talked about girls' marriages—" she said with a slight smile, "Isn't that going a bit too far?"

Lai Xuan asked without changing his expression, "How much did you hear?"

“That’s enough.” Haruko walked to the desk and gently put down the documents. “Let me summarize: You plan to arrange a marriage between me and Karl so that we can jointly run Arasaka and show the world a new image of the company—changing the city and the world from top to bottom and from bottom to top. You even said that I have no objection to the marriage. Now all that’s left is to convince Karl.”

"I heard you perfectly." Lai Xuan chuckled. "So, was there anything I said wrong?"

“No.” Haruko straightened up, a sharp glint in her eyes. “No, there can’t be any mistakes.”

(End of this chapter)